Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Urgent and Emergency Care

Tuesday 23 July 2024 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The latest data confirms that one in four patients wait longer than four hours in A&E.
  • Professor Lord Darzi will lead an investigation into NHS performance to inform a 10-year reform of the NHS.
  • The Minister welcomes the opportunity to work with MPs on safeguarding community services and improving NHS capacity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Uma Kumaran Lab Stratford and Bow
NHS
Context

The NHS is struggling with urgent and emergency care services, with one in four patients waiting longer than four hours in A&E.

Question

What assessment has the Department made of the effectiveness of NHS urgent and emergency care services?

Answer from Karin Smyth

The latest data confirms the terrible state in which the Conservatives left urgent and emergency care services, with one in four patients waiting longer than four hours in A&E. Professor Lord Darzi will lead an investigation into NHS performance to inform a 10-year reform of the NHS.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assessment or details on effectiveness but referenced general state and upcoming review.

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Q2 Uma Kumaran Lab Stratford and Bow
NHS
Context

Barts health NHS trust includes Newham University, Royal London, and Whipps Cross hospitals with high A&E volume and overcrowding.

Question

Residents in my constituency are served by Barts health NHS trust. Will the Minister ask her Department to look at capacity issues at those hospitals and at how community pharmacy prescribing services may be used to alleviate some of the pressures?

Answer from Karin Smyth

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point about pharmacies: they will have a central role in our future system, but she should know that her Government allowed these situations to worsen.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific request for capacity investigation or use of community pharmacies.

How: Criticising Previous Government

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Q3 Priti Patel Con Witham
NHS
Context

Essex has seen improvements in emergency care services, including the ambulance trust.

Question

Will the Minister commit to meeting me and working with my right hon. Friend on looking at ways we can safeguard community services at St Peter's hospital in Maldon?

Answer from Karin Smyth

I welcome my right hon. Friend to her new role but she should also welcome our mission to rebuild the broken front door to the NHS and have more neighbourhood services based in communities, bringing those services together where patients are; that is absolutely what we all want.

Not addressed: Did not commit to meeting or addressing community services at St Peter's Hospital directly.

How: Criticising Previous Government

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Q4 Shaun Davies Lab Telford
NHS
Context

The last Conservative Government made Telford the largest town without a fully functioning A&E.

Question

Will the Health team meet me and other Shropshire MPs to discuss this discredited and disgraceful decision?

Answer from Karin Smyth

I welcome my hon. Friend to his place. He knows what we all know, and that is why we are committed to restoring standards and fixing this broken NHS.

Not addressed: Did not commit to meeting or address specific issues in Telford.

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Q5 Andrew George Lib Dem St Ives
NHS
Context

The urgent treatment centre at the West Cornwall hospital in Penzance is now closed at night, putting pressure on Treliske emergency department with 20 ambulances parked outside.

Question

Will the Minister meet me and colleagues and the local NHS to discuss this issue?

Answer from Karin Smyth

Again, across the country we see the damage done over the last 14 years. That is why we want a 10-year plan to look at this, an immediate look with Lord Darzi, and to understand which community and primary care services can be supported.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific meeting but referenced general plans.

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